Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

simply

/ˈsɪmpli/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.08 in modern English

Syllables: sim-ply
IPA: /ˈsɪmpli/

13

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.

adv

Plainly; without art or subtlety

adv

Foolishly; stupidly.

adv

Merely; solely.

adv

absolutely, positively.

adv

Example Sentences

"‘No,’ said Stephen simply."
"Mrs. Thorold had told her sons that a young lady was visiting at the house, whose history she had given them in short hand, describing her as a dependent on the late Mrs. Willoughby, whom her son had very simply intended to marry at Alvestone […]."
"I was simply asking a question."
"A “moving platform” scheme[…]is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails.[…]This set-up solves several problems […]. Stopping high-speed trains wastes energy and time, so why not simply slow them down enough for a moving platform to pull alongside?"
"Rather than scanning a boarding pass or handing over a passport, you simply stare into a camera and you’re verified."
"That was a simply wonderful dessert."

Etymology

From Middle English symply, symplely; equivalent to simple + -ly, with *-lely simplified to -ly by haplology.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: symply

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈsɪmpli/
British English: /ˈsɪmpli/

Inflected Forms

more simply (comparative) most simply (superlative)

Derived Forms

nonsimply

Phrases

purely and simply simply connected

Frequently Paired Words

single

Synonyms

clearly obviously unquestionably just barely but literally merely no more than nothing but only simply

Antonyms

complexly

Questions

How do you pronounce simply?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɪmpli/.
What does simply mean?: In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.
Where does simply come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce simply

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “simply”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈsɪmpli/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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